Despite the fact that I can't get 3G on the G1 (since I'm using an unlocked handset on AT&T), I had neglected to turn the 3G radio off (checking the "Use 2G networks only" option).

Gee, think that will help my battery life some? :D

Alright, so do I need to read (not skim) this thread to get all da tipz on how to increase my battery life by selectively shutting stuff on/off like you're talking about using locations? Is there a website that goes into this? Or do you want to give a rundown of what you do?

Thanks to this thread this phone has gone to the top of my wishlist when upgrade time comes next year. I'm definitely ready for a smartphone, yet I don't know anyone who likes Windows Mobile, looks like the way to go.

"Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." ― H.L. Mencken

I think I'm pretty settled on the G1 as well, thanks to Legion's glowing endorsement. I'm even eligible for the $179 upgrade price. I had some concerns about located in a non-3G area, but it seems like it's not really bothering anyone else.

Is there a browsable website for all the apps in the Android Market? or do you need the G1 in order to do that?

Alright, so do I need to read (not skim) this thread to get all da tipz on how to increase my battery life by selectively shutting stuff on/off like you're talking about using locations? Is there a website that goes into this? Or do you want to give a rundown of what you do?

My battery tips are as such:
1) Turn off 3G (especially if you can't get 3G at all, like me), or use Any Cut to make an easy home page link to the Wireless settings for turning off 3G when you're not using it.
2) Turn off contact auto-sync. If you want to keep your contacts in sync with your Google Contacts, it's easy enough to flip it back on for a minute whenever you actually make contact changes.
3) Use Locale to turn off wifi, Bluetooth, lower screen brightness, etc in places where you don't need them.

I had some concerns about located in a non-3G area, but it seems like it's not really bothering anyone else.

It performs well on EDGE. It's actually a little bit of a blessing in disguise in terms of battery life.

Is there a browsable website for all the apps in the Android Market? or do you need the G1 in order to do that?

Nope, unfortunately.

GWJFFL Trophy Case:
Dynasty: 2012, 2013
Pro: 2013

Stele: "You're just afraid [Rat Boy]'s going to disappear for 2 years on us again"

Thanks for the tips. Locale isn't working for me right now, though. I have it setup, for example, to turn on WiFi when I'm at home. The WiFi on the phone isn't on, so what should I expect to trigger locale. I'm at my address.

Thanks for the tips. Locale isn't working for me right now, though. I have it setup, for example, to turn on WiFi when I'm at home. The WiFi on the phone isn't on, so what should I expect to trigger locale. I'm at my address.

First off, have you turned the GPS on? (Settings -> Security & Location)

Secondly, the way Locale works is that it triggers the behavior when you enter & exit the location circles. This is so that, if you WANTED to, say, turn on Wifi while you're in an area where you'd usually have it off, Locale won't immediately shut it back off. So if you're just now changing the settings while you're inside the circle, those settings won't be triggered until you leave and re-enter that sphere.

You might be able to get Locale to trigger the settings by disabling and then re-enabling Locale. Not sure if that will in fact get it to trigger the location behavior when it comes back on, but worth a shot.

GWJFFL Trophy Case:
Dynasty: 2012, 2013
Pro: 2013

Stele: "You're just afraid [Rat Boy]'s going to disappear for 2 years on us again"

I use GMail completely. So that's part of the draw for me. I can look at calendars and they're the same in both places. I can filter email in bits and pieces at work and not come home to a full inbox.

I'll try out your tips on getting locale to work for me like I want it to. One other random question. I purchased the PS3 headset and SOCOM and was hoping to use that with my phone during the day. Is there an easy way to switch between being paired with the PS3 and the G1? Is it just turn off bluetooth on the G1before I turn on the PS3?

I use GMail completely. So that's part of the draw for me. I can look at calendars and they're the same in both places. I can filter email in bits and pieces at work and not come home to a full inbox.

I use Gmail as my primary "public" email, but I have IMAP boxes for my work email, and some other secondary email accounts. Being able to use Gmail with all of its unique abstractions (like labels) as well as use my normal IMAP boxes in a separate client is a huge draw for me. My old phone could access Gmail through IMAP, but features like stars and labels weren't supported.

One other random question. I purchased the PS3 headset and SOCOM and was hoping to use that with my phone during the day. Is there an easy way to switch between being paired with the PS3 and the G1? Is it just turn off bluetooth on the G1 before I turn on the PS3?

Not sure, but I don't think the PS3 headset will pair with both devices simultaneously. Most headsets will only remember one "pairing" at a time (even if the devices on the other end both remember the pairing).

I picked up a Plantronics headset on discount at T.J. Maxx last time my wife dragged me to that place.

GWJFFL Trophy Case:
Dynasty: 2012, 2013
Pro: 2013

Stele: "You're just afraid [Rat Boy]'s going to disappear for 2 years on us again"

Legion, how do you get Locale to stop checking via GPS. I'm getting frequent notifications from locale that I'm on my "work settings". I need to figure out how to do this right as having GPS on all the time seems less than ideal if it's checking my locale all the time.

Okay, I am lost on something. If I have Locale turn off my GPS what Locale event could reliably turn it back on?

Locale is made for GPS. If you turn off GPS and use only cell tower triangulation, it can't get a reliable fix on your location. Triangulation can be off by a few blocks, so if your Locale location radius isn't sufficiently large, it may very well see you as outside of it.

This is why I don't really turn my GPS off. You can't have location-based apps do much for you if you don't give them a way to accurately detect your location.

I do have the Toggle GPS app downloaded and on my home page, so that I can manually toggle the GPS off if I'm going to be in one place for a long time and need to conserve the battery. Then I toggle the GPS on again when leaving so that apps like Locale can do their job.

GWJFFL Trophy Case:
Dynasty: 2012, 2013
Pro: 2013

Stele: "You're just afraid [Rat Boy]'s going to disappear for 2 years on us again"

Ah, okay. That's what I need to do. Because when I'm at work I need to quickly and easily turn off GPS. Now I just need to figure out how to do facebook comments (comments on people's stuff). My wife wants to switch to T-Mobile and maybe the G1, but apparently this is the deal-breaker.

Be sure to note the caveats I pointed out earlier. In particular, if you want to use this on AT&T's 3G network, forget it, as T-Mobile and AT&T's 3G networks operate on entirely different frequencies.

I found this disappointing at first, but the phone is reasonably fast on EDGE and the added battery life from not running the 3G radio is nice. I primarily want email, IM, and mostly-text web browsing from a phone, so it works for me. People that want streaming video and stuff from their phone will require 3G.

There's a couple of other caveats - indeed, read everything I've written in this thread before making any purchasing decisions.

GWJFFL Trophy Case:
Dynasty: 2012, 2013
Pro: 2013

Stele: "You're just afraid [Rat Boy]'s going to disappear for 2 years on us again"

Hmmm.... So tonight I entered the movie theater after having my cell phone on the charger all day. I walked out and it was completely dead. What could it have done, just sitting in my pocket, to completely drain the battery?

GPS sucks battery, I mainly turn it on when I want to use the maps or whatever (I actually don't use Locale.). Wifi and 3g radio both drain battery. (I wouldn't reccomend ever having both on. Before I forgot to turn off 3g radio, it'd be dead in a day.)

As far as a first smartphone goes, I can't think of a better one. It's my first smartphone. (Though, same for third, fourth, ninth...). I got a chance to play with the Storm, and IMO, the g1 completely pwns it. Having played with an iPhone, it's less clear cut. Personally, open app development, a full physical keyboard, and not being locked to iTunes carries the day for me. Once it gets python and security tools, the domination will be complete. (Jython _will_ be ported eventually. If cPython doesn't just get ported.)

iPhone - AT&T only.

Blackberry Storm - Verizon only.

G1 - TMobile currently. Unlockable for AT&T, and odds are will get ported to sprint.

Furthermore, a question about the AT&T network. How does the radio look to the android software? Is it tunable to different frequencies, or is it frequency-locked. (I don't remember if transmitters have to be hardware-locked due to FCC regulations.)

Also: Stereo bluetooth. Hardware limitation, or software?

So far, I have exactly one complaint about the G1. I can't charge it and have headphones at the same time. So, I can't charge it and listen to the GWJ podcast through my car stereo at the same time.

Went to the T-Mobile store this morning, hoping to snag one. I was told they don't have them in stock and they are still backordered until at least the first week of December.

I was hoping the shortage was over by now and didn't feel like placing the order. DSGamer seemed to have gotten his right away. Am I out of luck? If I had to order one, should I order one online, in person or over the phone?